Survey and analysis of vegetation and hydrological change in English dune slack habitats (NECR153)

This Work was conducted under a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Natural England and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and British Geological Survey, initiating a programme of linked vegetation and hydrological studies. As stated in the MoA, the overall aim of this collaboration is ‘To improve the conservation status of dune wetlands of European importance and the condition of the dune wetland features of sand dune SSSIs identified in Appendix 1, through a major improvement in understanding of dune ecohydrological functioning.’

Sand dune slacks also known as dune wetlands, are a rare and threatened habitat in England. The habitat is also of European significance and has suffered from limited research to date because of the small sizes, rarity and geographically peripheral location around the coast. The aim of this work is to improve the conservation status of this habitat through increased understanding of dune ecohydrological functioning.

Natural England will use the findings in a number of ways, including to information further research, report on the condition and status of this habitat and to provide management and restoration advice to site managers and others.